Senator Aisling Dolan met with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar recently to seek an update on the prospects for much-needed investment in the Ballinasloe area.
This followed the Tánaiste’s meeting with the West Regional Enterprise Plan’s (REPs) steering group at which the need for investment in the Ballinasloe area was highlighted.
The REPs steering group is chaired by private sector business people and comprises of representatives of the Local Authorities, LEOs, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Regional Skills Fora, Higher and Further Education Institutes, enterprise champions and others.
Senator Dolan said: “A strong focus of the Tánaiste’s meeting with the West Regional Group was on the urgent need for investment in the Ballinasloe region with the recent loss of jobs with Aptar and Bord na Móna. It is the end of an era with the closure recently of the Shannonbridge Power Station.
“Ballinasloe has a great quality of life, great clubs and schools, easy access to the motorway, and it’s less than an hour and 20 minutes to Dublin Airport. And, with the new Technological University less than fifteen minutes away in Athlone, we have a lot to offer potential employers”.
The Senator outlined to the Tánaiste that the Ballinasloe area would be an ideal choice for investment, in particular with availability of the Aptar premises, which measures over 65,000 square metres, and with potential for expansion within the IDA Business Park.
Senator Dolan said that while Deputy Varadkar spoke about positive jobs’ news in Diligent in Galway and Harmac Medical in Castlerea, he acknowledged the fact that the region has also suffered job losses.
Senator Dolan said that she is committed to driving investment into this region and will continue to work closely with the Tánaiste to achieve much-needed investment and jobs in the Ballinasloe area.
